Can the SB-600 be used remotly with just a D70?

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

08/22/2008 09:10:30 AM · #1

I am buying a flash today. I am looking at the SB-600 for my Nikon D70s. One thing that i am confused about it the remote capabilities. Can i use this flash a standalone unit, and have my camera trigger it?

I know it's a stupid question, but everything i've read just goes into too many technical details without explaining the basics.

swankFoto

Fujifilm X-E1

08/22/2008 09:15:35 AM · #2

yes you can

Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX Diagonal Fisheye for Nikon

08/22/2008 09:16:00 AM · #3

thank you very much!

muckpond

Nikon D200

08/22/2008 09:16:40 AM · #4

yes, you should be able to use the D70 in commander mode and set up the 600 as a remote.

i rented a few 600s one time and remember that it was kind of a pain in the butt to get them into remote mode. if you have a manual for it, should be easy.

remember that if you use your camera in commander mode, your on-camera flash does not contribute to the overall light of the scene (which may or may not be a good thing).

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

08/22/2008 09:22:54 AM · #5

@muckpond, thanks for pointing that out. I don't think this will be a problem for me.
When you say won't contribute to the scene, do you mean the on-camera flash won't fire?

swankFoto

Fujifilm X-E1

08/22/2008 02:55:26 PM · #6

Originally posted by PlayWithFire:

@muckpond, thanks for pointing that out. I don't think this will be a problem for me.
When you say won't contribute to the scene, do you mean the on-camera flash won't fire?

Basically, yes.
It will fire a rapid succession of flashes a` la` visual morse code but this just communicates the TTL information to the off camera speedlight.
The pop-up stops firing before the shutter opens thus does not contribute to the exposure.
Fine if you are using just the SB-600 but sux if you have other speedlights in optical slave mode.
Since the SB-600 doesn't offer slave mode you can't use commander mode from the camera to fire an SB-600 and say an SB-28 at the same time without adding an optical slave add-on to the sb-600 (kind of undermines what you're trying to accomplish tho eh?) and additionally the pop-up will now contribute to the exposure - which I minimize the impact if I don't want it by setting flash comensation to as low a -EV as I can.

Message edited by author 2008-08-22 14:56:23.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 16-85 f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

08/22/2008 03:36:36 PM · #7

ok, then just a simple question
is that a good first speedlight? it seems that people always talk about having more then one

i figure the SB-600 is a good start for me, and i can always add to it later

rcrawford

Nikon D300

08/22/2008 03:56:34 PM · #8

I don't know if the D300 is different than the D70 but on the D300 you have the ability to control the output of the onboard flash as well as group A and group B. In other words you can have the onboard flash contribute to the actual photo from -3.0 to +3.0 f-stops, the same goes for group A and B. The SB600 can be set to group A or B so you set it up any way you want. It really is pretty easy once you get everything in front of you.

And yes the SB600 is a good start.

Message edited by author 2008-08-22 15:57:10.

dassilem

Nikon D90

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

08/22/2008 04:21:35 PM · #9

Originally posted by PlayWithFire:

Yes it is a good start...I got the SB-600 first....now I just got a SB800. (my D50 does not have commander mode, so I could only use it on-camera) Now I have a SB-800 and SC-29. The SC-29 allows me to get the SB800 off camera and the SB800 triggers the sb600.